Voice volume exercise sheet

These exercises will help you to control the volume of your voice effectively, without causing any excessive tension in the muscles of your throat.

Why do I need these exercises?

Volume is altered by increasing or decreasing the pressure of air beneath the vocal folds (cords) as they open and close. Poor volume control is often linked to poor breath support and control. Insufficient breath support can lead to excessive effort when you attempt to make yourself heard; this in turn can lead to tension in the muscles in the throat, and result in voice problems.

These exercises should help you to alter and control volume effectively without placing any unnecessary strain on your voice. You may find it helpful to begin by doing some breathing or relaxation exercises, if your speech therapist has already introduced you to these.

How do I carry out the exercises?

When practising these exercises remember to remain relaxed and use a relaxed breathing pattern.

• Begin by thinking about your breathing, focusing on the air coming in through your nose and out through your mouth.
• As you breathe in (inhale), your lungs should expand and you can feel your stomach move out. When you breathe out (exhale), your stomach will go back into its neutral position.
• This movement of the stomach is caused by the movement of a large muscle called the diaphragm. At rest, it is arched like an up-turned bowl and as we breathe in it flattens, allowing the lungs to expand and fill with air. Using the diaphragm is the most effective way of altering the volume of the voice.
• To locate the diaphragm place your fingers over your stomach at the level where your ribcage parts and above your navel. Breathe in as before and as you breathe out say “sh” in short sharp bursts

Sh:sh:sh:sh:sh:

You should feel a pulsing on each “sh”. This is your diaphragm working.

On each of the following exercises maintain your breathing pattern and feel for or be aware of your diaphragm working to control the flow of air as you alter volume.

• Using the sound /sh/, imitate the sound of the sea ebbing and flowing. As the wave breaks on the sea shore, increase the volume and reduce it as the sea ebbs away.

sh...SH...sh...SH...sh

• Using the sounds /v/ /m/ /n/ or /ng/ (as in the word sing) imitate the sounds of a car or a plane approaching, passing and fading into the distance.

vvvvvvvVVVVVVVvvvvvvv mmmmMMMMMMmmmm

nnnnnnNNNNNNNnnnnnn NGNGNGngngngNGNGNG

• Using the sound /z/, imitate the noise of a mosquito, approaching, passing and fading away.

zzzzzzzZZZZZZzzzzzzz

• Imagine playing with the volume control on a radio and try to imitate the variety of sounds. Work with the sounds /woh/, /wee/, /wow/, either on their own or as a blend, moving from one to the other.

How often and when should I do these exercises?

It is best to practise these exercises for short periods of time, on a regular basis. This helps them to have more of an effect on your voice. A good target would be to practise them five times a day for up to five minutes each time.

What should I do if I cannot complete the exercises?

If you have any questions or concerns about these exercises please contact your speech and language therapist who will be happy to discuss them with you.